Surgical Urinary Incontinence Treatments
Urinary Incontinence Repair
Surgical treatment of stress incontinence may be an option for women who have failed medical or behavioral therapy. We will run a urodynamic test to determine your severity of urine leakage which helps us decide the best treatment for you. Depending on your circumstance, an abdominal approach or vaginal approach may be utilized. Both options have a very good success rate. The vaginal approach utilizes a sling and typically can be done as an outpatient procedure at the west health facility. Many women choose to combine the sling procedure with vaginal rejuvenation.
Benefits of Surgery Include:
Minimally invasive outpatient procedure (approx 30 to 40 minute procedure) performed through Small vaginal incision.
Dr Erhard has a high success rate in treating stress incontinence- 80 to 90% success rate.
50% chance of improving symptoms of overactive bladder (OAB) – sudden urge to urinate, frequent trips to the bathroom to urinate.
Return to work quickly- No heavy lifting, straining or sex for 4 to 6 weeks.
Sling
The SLING is a vaginal procedure used to correct (stress urinary incontinence) loss of urine during physical activity – running, jumping, coughing, sneezing, lifting etc. A sling is a small strip of material that is inserted through an incision in the vagina and placed beneath the urethra. The mesh-like material remains as a permanent sling under the urethra can be compressed during physical activity to prevent stress urinary incontinence. The Sling causes the urethra to close when the patient puts pressure on the bladder (strains, laughs, coughs, etc.). As a result, episodes of stress incontinence are prevented or improved. There are a variety of types of slings
Tension Free Transvaginal Tape (TVT Sling)
The TVT is a brand of sling made of synthetic material that can be placed on an outpatient basis using local anesthesia. The GYNECARE TVT Tension-free support for incontinence primarily consists of a mesh-like tape that is surgically inserted through the vagina to support the bladder neck and urethra. Ordinarily, the urethra maintains a tight seal to prevent loss of urine. For women with stress urinary incontinence, weakened pelvic floor muscles and ligaments cannot support the urethra in its correct position. If you undergo TVT surgery, your surgeon will restore the normal position of the urethra placing a “sling” or mesh tape beneath the urethra. Uniquely, TVT provides support at the middle of the urethra, the section that is under the most strain during normal activities. This restores the urethra to a more natural position, thus correcting the leakage. Unlike other procedures, no bone anchors or sutures are necessary.
Transobturator Tape (TOT)
Transobturator Tape (TOT) is a small sling that is placed below the bladder neck or the urethra in an outpatient surgery that will correct most stress incontinence or bladder leakage. The procedure is very simple and performed at our West Health Ambulatory Surgery Center as a same day procedure. Most patients return to work or normal activities the next day!
Urethral injections
A transurethral or periurethral injection is a simple outpatient procedure in which a substance is injected to narrow the urethra and prevent leakage.
InterStim™ Therapy
InterStim™ Therapy is an FDA-approved treatment for urinary urgency, frequency, urge incontinence and retention. The InterStim™ is a small device that is implanted under the skin of one of the upper buttocks. It works by gently stimulating the sacral nerves to help the bladder function more normally.
Conditions treated by pelvic rehabilitation are:
Urinary incontinence
Urinary urgency, frequency
Urinary retention
Overactive bladder (Urge incontinence)
Pelvic floor muscle spasm (Levator ani spasm)
Interstitial cystitis
Chronic pelvic pain
Chronic constipation
Fecal incontinence
Pelvic floor relaxation ( muscle weakness)
Postpartum muscle weakness
Dyspareunia (Pain with intercourse)
RECLAIM YOUR LIFE!
We offer choices and solutions with Real RESULTS!! Our simple sling procedures will take you from wet to dry in less than 30 minutes!
No more embarrassing leakage or unexpected change of clothes!
